cwroth

Q: airport assistant in 10.8 won't work with airport express

I updated to OS 10.8 from 10.6 and now the airpot utility says that it sees my airport express (about 4 yrs old)  but

"This version of AirPort Utility doesn’t support this base station"  I tried an earlier version of airport utility but it won't work with system 10.8. Does anyone have a work around?


AirPort Express Base Station

Posted on Jun 2, 2013 7:19 AM

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Q: airport assistant in 10.8 won't work with airport express

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  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Jun 2, 2013 8:47 AM in response to cwroth
    Level 8 (49,556 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 2, 2013 8:47 AM in response to cwroth

    Your Express is most likely over five years old.

     

    You need AirPort Utility 5.6 to configure an older Express. The problem with that version is that Mountain Lion will refuse to let you install it.

     

    This dilemma is easily solved. You simply need to extract the app from the installer package using a package extractor like Pacifist or unpkg. Pacifist is shareware, unpkg is free.

     

    Download Pacifist here: http://www.charlessoft.com/

     

    Download unpkg here: http://www.timdoug.com/unpkg/

     

    Download AirPort Utility 5.6 here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482

     

    When the AirPort Utility .dmg file finishes downloading, open it to expand and reveal the AirPortUtility56.pkg package installer file.

     


     

    Directions for Pacifist (I do not have screenshots for unpkg but the idea is similar):

     

    Open Pacifist and from its File menu, navigate to the package and open it.

     

    Click the "reveal triangles" until you see AirPort Utility 5.6.app:

     

     

    Screen Shot 2013-01-08 at 3.35.25 PM.png

     

     

    Select it and then click Install from Pacifist's toolbar. It will then be installed in your Utilities folder, and you can quit Pacifist.



    The most recent version of AirPort Utility included with Mountain Lion should be used to configure 802.11n - capable AirPort Base Stations. Make no attempt to delete it. It and the older version (which will bear the unique name "AirPort Utility 5.6") can peacefully coexist. Use the older version only as necessary for older AirPort Base Stations that cannot be administered any other way.

     

    If you happen to have an archived copy of the AU 5.6 app somewhere, such as a Time Machine backup or equivalent, you can simply restore it or drag the app to your Mountain Lion system's Utilities folder instead of resorting to the above procedure. It will run without complaint. It is only the package installer that is the problem.

     

    Keep in mind that Apple's decision to abandon support for your original AirPort Express was for reasons known only to them. Remember that you are using obsolete equipment, should some future OS X feature not work for you.

  • by Gray R,

    Gray R Gray R Aug 30, 2013 9:25 AM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2013 9:25 AM in response to John Galt

    I downloaded unpkg v4.5 from that link, but when I drop the AU 5.6 on it, it tells me it's not a package.  Did I miss a step?

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Aug 30, 2013 9:37 AM in response to Gray R
    Level 8 (49,556 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2013 9:37 AM in response to Gray R

    No idea Gray. I just tried it and it worked without a hitch.

     

    Screen Shot 2013-08-30 at 12.36.11 PM.png

     

    Other than the possibility of a corrupted download I don't know else what to suggest. Try Pacifist, perhaps.

  • by Gray R,

    Gray R Gray R Aug 30, 2013 9:40 AM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2013 9:40 AM in response to John Galt

    Thanks, I was dragging the wrong image.